Aladdin Sane 3T/3T 1st Press + Fan Club Insert

This first press 'fan club' edition on the orange RCA Victor label plays with superb audio for the vast majority and the gatefold is in excellent condition.  It includes the original fan club insert which is complete and in near perfect condition.

RS 1001 // CPRY 4543 - 3T / CPRY 4544 - 3T 

The audio on S1 is Mint- (tracks 4&5 Ex+ to Near Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / track 1 VG- for two seconds)

The gatefold is Ex

The lyric inner is Ex-

The fan club insert is Mint-

The labels are Mint-

Visually this vinyl is not without fault but as you can see from the audio grading there is very little interference.  There are a number of faint hairlines and a couple of faint scuffs but they have no affect on the stunning audio.  This shows how robust vinyl is basically.  Don't get me wrong it is still in excellent condition and I cannot see any scratches so I would say the hairlines are mainly caused by sleeve removal and are superficial only.

Play grading  

With no static/crackle on the intro 'Watch That Man' begins S1 with stunning quality.  There is no interference and the clarity is superb throughout and even the fade out has no 'background'.  It would be nigh on impossible to find a better version.  The title track 'Aladdin Sane' plays to the same immaculate standard and again there are no clicks or pops and no static or crackle either.  This is a sensational start to this first pressing that is now 45 years old.  It is worth pointing out that the very quiet piano end section plays with sublime audio - no 'background' apart from one very light dust tick.  I always think the quieter sections on any record give a good indication of its quality and so far this record has fabulous quality in abundance!  'Drive In Saturday' further exemplifies the stunning clarity on offer here and plays with superb warmth and depth from start to finish.  Once more every note plays with perfect precision.  'Panic In Detroit' and 'Cracked Actor' both impress but there is perhaps just a minimal amount of distortion on the top end.  Perhaps a little more on the latter but it does not intrude on the quality of the listen in my opinion.  As any Bowie audiophile knows this is especially common on this final track and is generally caused by the grooves being pressed closer together.  Again there are no clicks or pops and the long fade out is absolutely stunning with no 'background' at all.

  The quiet intro on 'Time' has no static on the first few seconds but there is then one rather loud pop and a quieter click sadly.  I often find this track plays with some interference so I am pleased to say the rest of the track plays with near faultless audio.  In fact it is superb!  The clarity is 'high end' and the second quiet section is a prime example of this with no static, just 2/3 mega light dust ticks.  Overall a sublime version of this classic aside from the 'imperfection' at the start and only a little static on the fade out.  'The Prettiest Star' plays without fault and easily grades as Near Mint such is quality, just a touch of minor static on the fade out.  'Let's Spend The Night Together' is stunning and plays with great depth and clarity.  The sonic quality here is first class and this is without doubt one of, if not the strongest version I have ever heard.  A fantastic rendition with such a strong rhythm section.  The spoken section near the end plays perfectly as does the entire track.  'The Jean Genie' is again super impressive and has hardly any of the distortion that you so often find.  This is another track where the playback is of a dynamic standard, there is just no interference of any kind.  No clicks or pops and no static or crackle.  Absolutely superb!  The crescendo end section is so powerful.  What follows is quite possibly the cleanest version of 'Lady Grinning Soul' I have ever heard.  From the quiet piano intro to the end the clarity is of the highest calibre and this grades as Near Mint if not better!  The further you get into the track the more you are impressed by it - it truly is a breathtaking version and there is no interference to be heard.  There is just a touch of distortion towards the end but that does not take away from the stunning quality of the audio here.  The long fade out is incredible and has no 'background' of any kind.

The Gatefold

The gatefold is in excellent condition overall with some minor shelf wear only.  The edges and wide spine are in fantastic condition with next to no wear and there is hardly any corner wear also.  The opening edge has no handling wear at all and is in superb condition.  The front cover is very clean with only a small amount of fading - the back cover has a little more fading and a small number of faint spots also.  The inside of the gatefold is in great shape with only a couple of minor marks.  Considering how 'white' this cover is it has stood the test of time very well in my opinion.

Lyric sleeve & Fan Club insert

The thick card lyric sleeve has no splits but there is some rubbing on the edges and a couple of faint marks.  The fan club insert with the printed signature is 100% complete and is in near perfect condition with only one faint crease, I have never seen better.

The labels

The orange labels are in superb condition with no marking/writing and there is barely any spindle wear - they are fantastic examples, 'as new' really.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

RS 1001 // CPRY 4543 - 3T / CPRY 4544 - 3T 

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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